Monopod camera stand

ABSTRACT

An assemble-able stand apparatus for a camera, comprises three rigid elongated rods, and three rod connectors. Two of the elongated rods have axially oriented female threads at opposing ends while a further one of the elongated rods has axially oriented female threads at only one end and an integral piercing implement at its other end. Two of the rod connectors have axially oriented collinear male threads arranged in opposing directions, while the third has the same and, in addition, further male threads arranged at right angles to the collinear male threads. The male threads are engagable with the female threads for assembling the elongated rods in an integral linear form. The male threads are also each threadably engagable with a standard tripod female thread of a camera.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates generally to supports for equipment suchas cameras and the like and more particularly to a an adaptable singlelegged stand for a camera.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] The following art defines the present state of this field:

[0005] Harris, U.S. Pat. No. D194,592 provides a combined portable seatand camera support.

[0006] Shiraishi, U.S. Pat. No. D257,259 provides a camera unipod.

[0007] Alter, U.S. Pat. No. 2,219,169 describes a support for mounting acamera within an automobile, the combination of a strut comprising upperand lower members and means operative to adjust the distance betweensaid members of said strut and mount same between fixed bodies invertical relation in the interior of such automobile; and elementmounted on said strut, said element being provided with marginalportions defining opposing sectors of a circle in a plane parallel tothe axis of said strut; and a second flat element mounted adjacent andparallel to said first element, said second element comprising means toengage and firmly hold a camera and marginal portions defining opposedsectors of a circle, which marginal portions are operative to engage thesaid marginal portions of said first-named element and to restrictrelative movement therebetween to rotative movement about a common axisnormal thereto. Bachmann, U.S. Pat. No. 3,335,989 describes a stand forcarrying an optical instrument, particularly a film camera, comprising arigid leg member, connecting means provided at the top of said legmember and adapted to connect said leg member with an optical instrumentso that the latter is prevented from angular movement with respect tothe top of said leg member about the longitudinal axis thereof, a footmember secured to the lower end of the leg member, said foot memberhaving bearing surface portions for contacting a supporting surface onwhich the stand is set up, a joint inserted between said leg member andsaid foot member adapted to allow a tilting movement of said leg memberrelative to said foot member in any desired direction, and frictionmeans arranged between said supporting surface and said connecting meansto brake said optical instrument against unintentional angular movementwith respect to the supporting surface about the longitudinal axis ofsaid leg member.

[0008] Tetlow, U.S. Pat. No. 3,575,369 describes a support which isadapted to carry a device, such as a lamp, camera, or the like, which isoriented in a given direction during use thereof. The support includesan elongated pole having a top end which carries the device as thecamera, lamp, or the like. At its bottom end the pole is connected witha stirrup which is adapted to engage the floor, ground, or the like andwhich receives the foot of the operator so that in this way the supportstructure can be steadied.

[0009] Lemkin et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,555 describes a stake andcoupler for holding an irrigation device, such as a sprinkler, for usein a home gardening watering system. The stake is an elongated plasticbody having a substantially constant multilobed crosssection. One end ofthe stake has a projection for mounting an irrigation device, the otherend a pointed tip for anchoring the stake in the ground. The coupler isa hollow plastic body, both ends of which contain identical openings andwhich will receive either end of the stake for joining two stakestogether.

[0010] The prior art teaches the use of camera stands but does not teachthe structural and use elements of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention teaches certain benefits in constructionand use which give rise to the objectives described below.

[0012] An assemble-able stand apparatus for a camera, comprises threerigid elongated rods, and three rod connectors. Two of the elongatedrods have axially oriented female threads at opposing ends while afurther one of the elongated rods has axially oriented female threads atonly one end and an integral piercing implement at its other end. Two ofthe rod connectors have axially oriented collinear male -threadsarranged in opposing directions, while the third has the same and, inaddition, further male threads arranged at right angles to the collinearmale threads. The male threads are engagable with the female threads forassembling the elongated rods in an integral linear form capable ofthree distinct heights. The male threads are also each threadablyengagable with a standard tripod female thread of a camera so as tosupport the camera at different heights and in an upright position fortaking landscape photos as well as in a sideways position for takingportrait photos.

[0013] A primary objective of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and method of use of such apparatus that provides advantagesnot taught by the prior art.

[0014] Another objective is to provide such an invention capable ofsupporting a camera at selected heights.

[0015] A further objective is to provide such an invention capable ofsupporting a camera above a surface that may be penetrated by theinvention apparatus.

[0016] A still further objective is to provide such an invention capableof being broken down and carried in a small pouch.

[0017] Other features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following more detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way ofexample, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. Insuch drawings:

[0019]FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the preferred embodiment of theinvention showing three separable portions thereof;

[0020]FIG. 2 is a closeup view of a portion thereof.

[0021]FIG. 3 is a partial breakaway view of the portion of FIG. 2;

[0022]FIG. 4 is an elevaton view showing adaptable use thereof; and

[0023]FIG. 5 is a closeup view showing an alternative mountingarrangement thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The above described drawing figures illustrate the invention inat least one of its preferred embodiments, which is further defined indetail in the following description.

[0025] An assemble-able mono-pod stand apparatus for a camera 10, asbest seen in FIG. 4, includes three rigid elongated rods 20, 30, 40 (20and 30 being identical) and three rod connectors 50, 60, 70 (50 and 60being identical). Two of the elongated rods 20, 30 have axially orientedfemale threads 80 at opposing ends thereof. A further one 40 of theelongated rods has axially oriented female threads 80 at one end thereofand an integral piercing implement 90 at the other end thereof. Two ofthe rod connectors 50, 60 have axially oriented collinear male threads100 arranged in opposing directions while a further one of the rodconnectors 70 has axially oriented male threads 100 arranged in opposingdirections and further male threads 101 arranged at right angles to thecollinear male threads 100. Both of the male threads 100 and 101 arethreadably engagable with the female threads 80 for assembling theelongated rods 20, 30, 40 in an integral linear form, as shown at theleft in FIG. 4. The male threads 100, 101 are also each threadablyengagable with a standard tripod female thread 81 of camera 10 so thatthe camera 10 is mountable onto the rods. Both the rods and theconnectors are made of common metal or plastic stock materials of rigidand durable construction as would be known to those of skill in the art.

[0026] In a first embodiment, shown in FIG. 4 at the right, one of therod connectors 50 is engaged with the further one of the elongated rods40 for supporting the camera 10, engaged with the one of the rodconnectors at a first height “A”, above a penetratable surface 110 whichmay be earth or any soft surface, impaled by the piercing implement 90which is preferably pointed as shown.

[0027] In a second embodiment, one of the two elongated rods 20 or 30 isengaged at a first end thereof with the one of the rod connectors andengaged at a second end thereof with a second one of the three rodconnectors 50, 60, 70 for supporting the camera 10 at a second height“B”, above the surface 110 which is impaled by the piercing implement90.

[0028] In a third embodiment, a second of the two elongated rods 20 or30 is engaged at a first end thereof with the second one of the rodconnectors and engaged at a second end thereof with a third one of thethree rod connectors for supporting the camera 10 at a third height “C”above the surface 110.

[0029] A preferred method of supporting a camera comprises providing asupporting hardware, as described above, of the three rigid elongatedrods 20, 30 and 40 and three rod connectors 50, 60 and 70; driving thepiercing implement 90 into a surface 110 for supporting the elongatedrod 40; engaging a second 30 and a third 20 of the elongated rods androd connectors 50, 60, 70 in sequence to form an integral composite rodassembly 120, and mounting the camera 10 on the upper end of the rodassembly 120, as shown.

[0030] While the invention has been described with reference to at leastone preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by thoseskilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather,the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction withthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An assemble-able stand apparatus for a cameracomprised of: three rigid elongated rods, and three rod connectors, twoof the elongated rods having axially oriented female threads at opposingends thereof, a further one of the elongated rods having axiallyoriented female threads at one end thereof and an integral piercingimplement at the other end thereof, two of the rod connectors havingaxially oriented collinear male threads arranged in opposing directions,one of the rod connectors having axially oriented male threads arrangedin opposing directions and further male threads arranged at right anglesto the collinear male threads, the male threads threadably engagablewith the female threads for assembling the elongated rods in an integrallinear form, the male threads being also each threadably engagable witha standard tripod female thread of a camera.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1wherein one of the rod connectors is engaged with the further one of theelongated rods for supporting a camera engaged with the one of the rodconnectors at a first height above a penetratable surface impaled by thepiercing implement.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising oneof the two elongated rods engaged at a first end thereof with the one ofthe rod connectors and engaged at a second end thereof with a second oneof the three rod connectors for supporting a camera at a second heightabove a penetratable surface impaled by the piercing implement.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 3 further comprising a second of the two elongatedrods engaged at a first end thereof with the second one of the rodconnectors and engaged at a second end thereof with a third one of thethree rod connectors for supporting a camera at a third height above apenetratable surface impaled by the piercing implement.
 5. A method ofsupporting a camera comprising providing a stand hardware of three rigidelongated rods, and three rod connectors where two of the elongated rodshave axially oriented female threads at opposing ends thereof, and afurther one of the elongated rods has axially oriented female threads atonly one end thereof and an integral piercing implement at the other endthereof, and two of the rod connectors have axially oriented collinearmale threads arranged in opposing directions, and one of the rodconnectors has axially oriented male threads arranged in opposingdirections and further male threads arranged at right angles to thecollinear male threads; threading one of the two rod connectors intoengagement with the further one of the elongated rods; driving thepiercing implement into a surface for supporting the elongated rod;engaging a second and a third of the elongated rods and rod connectorsin sequence to form an integral composite rod assembly, and mounting acamera on the upper end of the rod assembly.